Thread Tools

**dudeabides** · 03-24-2010, 07:00 PM

Preview of this weekends matches:

Quote:

The business end of the Magners League season is rapidly approaching and Leinster are in the box seat.

The 2009 Heineken Cup champions are four points clear at the top and have a game in hand on their nearest rivals, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Munster.

Leinster face Connacht at the RDS on Saturday, with Michael Cheika keen for a victory after a difficult loss to the westerners last season. The home side will be without centres Brian O'Driscoll and Gordon D'Arcy due to injuries picked up in Ireland's loss to Scotland.

Munster and Glasgow go head-to-head at Thomond Park on Friday night in our Game of the Week, with both sides eager to keep the pressure on the leaders.

Edinburgh open the gates at Murrayfield for the visit of the Scarlets. While Edinburgh search for a play-off spot the Scarlets are embroiled in a sub-plot with the Blues and Dragons for a Heineken Cup place.

Mike Blair and Phil Godman return from international duty for Edinburgh, starting at halfback. Centre Nick De Luca and flanker Alan MacDonald also return while Allan Jacobsen, Ross Ford and Jim Hamilton have been named on the bench.

With the Ospreys looking set to claim one of the three spots available the other three Welsh sides are in the hunt for the two remaining places. The Scarlets are a point behind the Blues, who welcome Ulster to the Cardiff City Stadium on Friday night.

The Blues see the return of six players from international duty with Leigh Halfpenny, Tom Shanklin, Tom James, Richie Rees, Martyn Williams and Gethin Jenkins all starting. Dai Young has rested flanker Sam Warburton and centre Jamie Roberts after their appearances for Wales last weekend.

The Dragons have a six-point cushion over the Blues but face a tough derby challenge as the Ospreys arrive at Rodney Parade on Saturday night.

Leinster out to extend control | Rugby Union | Celtic League | Rugby News | Scrum.com

**dudeabides** · 03-26-2010, 09:36 PM

Munster v Glasgow:

Quote:

A late try from Springbok centre Jean de Villiers proved vital for Munster as they overcame Magners League play-off rivals Glasgow Warriors 27-19 at Thomond Park.

De Villiers struck with six minutes to go, following up an early try for the home side by wing Denis Hurley. Ronan O'Gara returned from Ireland duty at fly-half and slotted 17 points from the kicking tee in a hard-fought game.

Glasgow too welcomed back their international contingent and named the impressive 'Killer Bs' back-row of John Barclay, Kelly Brown and Johnnie Beattie in their starting line-up. Barclay took the captain's armband for the game and scored Glasgow's only try while Scotland fly-half Dan Parks kicked 14 points a week after denying Ireland a Triple Crown at Croke Park.

O'Gara and Paul Warwick probed at the Glasgow back-three with a couple of well judged kicks in the opening exchanges but Canadian international wing DTH van der Merwe was equal to the task.

O'Gara missed his opening shot at goal but Munster were soon celebrating a try. De Villiers and his centre partner Lifeimi Mafi tore through Glasgow in midfield, with wing Ian Dowling supplying the scoring pass for Hurley to go over in the corner.

O'Gara sent the conversion cannoning off the posts before trading penalties with Parks but the fly-half's evening took a turn for the worse when his pass was picked off by Barclay on the Glasgow 22. The rangy openside had the gas to score at the other end despite a last-ditch tackle from Mafi.

O'Gara's next penalty secured a one-point half-time lead but Parks edged Glasgow ahead after the break despite Munster's pack stepping up a gear and helping to dominate territory. The home side continued to press though and O'Gara was able to kick three penalties in quick succession to open up a seven point lead. Glasgow lost replacement prop Kevin Tkachuk to the sin-bin for a ruck offence but the sides were level when Niall Ronan saw yellow for a similar infringement.

Parks closed the gap to a point with two more penalties but Glasgow were powerless to stop de Villiers sealing the win. He powered past Max Evans on the Glasgow 22 and had the pace to make the corner, from where O'Gara slotted a touchline conversion to deny the visitors a losing bonus-point.

De Villiers try seals Munster victory | Rugby Union | Celtic League | Rugby Match Pack | Scrum.com

**dudeabides** · 03-26-2010, 09:39 PM

Cardiff v Ulster:

Quote:

Cardiff Blues secured a vital victory in the race for Heineken Cup qualification by seeing off the challenge of Ulster 19-9 at the Cardiff City Stadium.

Second-half replacement Maama Molitika scored the only try of the game for the Blues, with Ben Blair kicking 14 points as Ulster were made to pay for two yellow cards in the closing stages.

Blair slotted three first-half kicks for the Blues but Niall O'Connor replied for Ulster in poor conditions. With both sides struggling to retain possession there was little attacking quality in the opening exchanges aside from some trademark breaks by Blair. Blues No.8 Xavier Rush, who will join Ulster next season, had a quiet game by his exacting standards.

O'Connor narrowed the gap with a long-range penalty in the second-half and while Leigh Halfpenny was unable to do the same the Blues were handed a man advantage by Ryan Caldwell's sin-binning for cynically pawing the ball back from a ruck. Blair's mixed evening with the boot continued as he missed two shots at goal but Ulster's discipline again gave out as Darren Cave was binned for a blatant trip on Halfpenny.

This time the Blues did not miss out, Molitika snaffling lineout ball and diving over unopposed. The flanker was denied a second moments later after failing to make the corner when put clear by Martyn Williams and O'Connor slotted another booming penalty to take three points out of the home side's lead. More Blues pressure secured a penalty, which Blair stroked home to secure the points.

Edinburgh v Lianelli:

Quote:

Despite wing Andy Fenby's late try the Scarlets slipped further behind the Blues with a 24-10 loss to title-chasing Edinburgh at Murrayfield.

Edinburgh continued their charge for a play-off spot thanks to tries either side of half-time from Roddy Grant and Tim Visser while Phil Godman kicked 14 points including a second-half drop-goal on his return from international duty.

Fenby's late score was preceded by a try on the half-hour mark by loose-head Phil John and while they were able to snare a losing bonus-point the Scarlets are now adrift of both the Blues and Dragons in the chase for a place at Europe's top table next season.

Grant's try was a brilliant effort with the back-rower released on a run to the line by Mark Robertson, who had collected his own chip. Grant still had plenty to do but powered in from outside the Scarlets' 22.

John replied following strong work out wide from Fenby and some slick handling by Rhys Priestland and David Lyons, but Visser showed his poaching instincts to score soon after the break. Fenby's solo effort bemused the home defence but Edinburgh held their nerve to close out the points.

Molitika carries Blues to vital win | Rugby Union | Celtic League | Rugby News | Scrum.com

**dudeabides** · 03-27-2010, 04:55 PM

Leinster v Connacht:

Quote:

Jonathan Sexton was the toast of the RDS Arena as his late drop goal saw Leinster pip their provincial rivals Connacht to a hard-earned win.

This was top versus bottom in the Magners League but Connacht really turned the tables on a much-fancied Leinster side, giving themselves every chance of recording their first victory in Dublin since 2002.

Winger Fionn Carr, a former Leinster Academy player, showed his home province what they are missing with two excellent tries in the opening 22 minutes.

Ireland and Lions star Rob Kearney touched down to close the gap to 14-8 at half-time, and Sexton won the battle of the out-halves in the second period by landing two penalties and the decisive 79th-minute drop goal.

It was cruel luck for Connacht for whom Ian Keatley missed two drop goal efforts and his fellow replacement Sean Cronin was inches away from scoring a try with seven minutes remaining.

This interprovincial derby was just 83 seconds old when Carr crashed over for his first try. Connacht's danger man, who has yet to feature for Ireland at Test level, caught Shaun Berne, Girvan Dempsey and Kearney all off guard as he cut in from the left and sprinted clear and under the posts.

New Zealander Miah Nikora added the conversion and although Connacht conceded a raft of penalties in the opening quarter, Leinster's sole reward was a fifth minute strike from Sexton.

The hosts' territorial dominance came to nothing and they were rocked again when Dempsey was robbed at a ruck and Carr linked with Nikora before gleefully dotting down to the left of the posts.

Nikora, with a considerable wind behind him, fired over a brilliant conversion to increase the pressure on Leinster who were missing the likes of Brian O'Driscoll, Gordon D'Arcy, Cian Healy and Jamie Heaslip.

Michael Cheika's men looked back on track, six minutes later, as Kearney dummied his way past Brian Tuohy and Aidan Wynne, just outside the visitors' 22, on the way to a well-taken try.

Sexton failed to convert and also pushed an injury-time penalty effort to the right of the posts, as Connacht held a six-point advantage at the break.

With Leo Cullen and his forward colleagues getting more of a grip on matters up front, Leinster reduced the arrears to three points thanks to Sexton - although the recent Six Nations debutant's radar was off in the 50th minute when he had a chance to level.

Drama followed as, with twelve minutes to go, Connacht lost full-back and captain for the day, Gavin Duffy, to the sin-bin for a punch, spotted by the touch judge. The television replay showed Duffy tangling with Fergus McFadden, but there was little or no evidence of a punch.

With the electric Carr continuing to threaten, Connacht looked like they might survive and a rousing breakaway almost had the perfect ending as Cronin sped towards the line. However, a desperate tackle from Dempsey felled the hooker, and Kearney got his arms under the ball to prevent the try.

Keatley then missed the easier of his two drop goal shots, from in front of the posts, and although Leinster scrum half Eoin Reddan did likewise at the other end, his half-back partner Sexton kept his nerve to coolly slot a 40-metre drop and dash Connacht's hopes at the death.

Ospreys v Dragons:

Quote:

The Dragons shocked the Ospreys at Rodney Parade with a 28-20 win over their more illustrious neighbours with whom they are now level on 33 points.

The Newport-Gwent side remain in sixth on points difference after leading throughout with Jason Tovey opening the scoring with a penalty after two minutes of play. Four minutes later, they had their first try, right winger William Harries crossing for an unconverted try and Tovey completed a strong opening ten minutes with a penalty to make the score 11-0.

Dan Biggar pulled a penalty back as the game entered a lull before James Hook touched down on the half-hour mark, allowing Biggar to narrow the gap to a point with the conversion. But that score just sparked the Dragons back to life and Tovey knocked over a penalty, before centre Matthew Watkins closed out the half with a try, converted by Tovey as they went in 21-10 up.

Biggar again closed the gap with a penalty, but bruising winger Aled Brew scored a 56th minute try to give the Dragons a comfortable cushion, extended by Tovey's conversion. Andrew Bishop narrowed the gap with a late try, but it wasn't enough to secure even a bonus point for the disappointing visitors who remain in fifth.

http://www.scrum.com/celticleague/ru...ry/113300.html

**dudeabides** · 04-01-2010, 06:47 PM

A preview of tomorrow's Munster v Leinster Magners clash:

Quote:

It's a game that needs no extra spice, but Friday's Magners League showdown between Munster and Leinster at Thomond Park will go a long way to deciding the makeup of the play-offs.

Leinster are currently four points clear of the reigning champions and Edinburgh and possess a game in hand as they prepare to storm one of world rugby's great fortresses.

There is a welcome return at No.12 as Gordon D'Arcy slots in alongside Fergus McFadden having recovered from a groin strain picked up on international duty with Ireland. The injury has proved more costly for the men in red with skipper Paul O'Connell and centre Keith Earls both missing out with similar problems.

As a result Ronan O'Gara takes the captain's armband for Munster and goes head-to-head with Jonathan Sexton after the young Leinsterman stole a march in the race to wear the Ireland No.10 jersey during the latter stages of the Six Nations. Sexton's confidence in his place kicking will also have been given a lift by his well-judged effort to beat Connacht last weekend and the kicking duel will be an intriguing sub-plot.

Mick O'Driscoll replaces O'Connell and pairs up with Donncha O'Callaghan in the second-row while David Wallace returns to action at No.8. He will face off against an Ireland team-mate in Jamie Heaslip and there is another interesting match-up as Scotland lock Nathan Hines is called into action at blindside, where he will compete with Munster's wily veteran Alan Quinlan.

There is a clash of styles in the back-three as Munster's second kicking option, Paul Warwick, gets to compare skills with Leinster's free-running Rob Kearney. Isa Nacewa and Girvan Dempsey man the wings for the men in blue while Munster call on Doug Howlett and Ian Dowling.

"It doesn't matter what competition it is Magners or Heineken, this sort of game is right up there with internationals in terms of physicality, intensity," said O'Callaghan, who will play his 160th game for Munster. "Mistakes are normally punished to the full, there'll be very little or no room for error. But these are the type of games that running around in the freezing wind, sleet and rain that we had in Clanwilliam on Tuesday are all about."

Leinster set for Thomond showdown | Rugby Union | Celtic League | Rugby Preview | Scrum.com

**dudeabides** · 04-02-2010, 05:49 PM

Munster v Leinster:

Quote:

Leinster took a stranglehold at the top of the Magners League table thanks to Rob Kearney's try in a 16-15 victory over Munster at Thomond Park.

Ronan O'Gara kicked all of Munster's points but his rival for the Ireland No.10 jersey Jonathan Sexton had the final say. Having missed a penalty just two minutes earlier, Sexton held his nerve to convert a 66th minute kick and drive Leinster to their first win at the Limerick venue since 1995 and their third successive triumph over their arch rivals.

It has given Michael Cheika's men a seven-point advantage at the top of the Magners League, and serious momentum ahead of next weekend's Heineken Cup quarter-final showdown with Clermont Auvergne.

The result owed much to Leinster's watertight defence and territorial dominance as the game wore on, with Kearney's late first half touchdown proving to be the only try on the night.

O'Gara, Munster's captain in the absence of the injured Paul O'Connell, had a 100% kicking return with five successful penalties, but it was not enough as Sexton and Fergus McFadden landed three penalties between them and the former converted Kearney's try.

Having recently lost his starting place in the Ireland team to Sexton, O'Gara's eagerness to impress was seen in the opening seconds when he charged down his opposite number. In a raucous atmosphere, Munster seized the early initiative with an O'Gara penalty punishing a binding offence from CJ van der Linde, and the latter's Springbok colleague Jean de Villiers featuring in a thrilling right wing raid.

Munster were varying their attacks well and when Leinster captain Leo Cullen saw yellow in the 14th minute for a deliberate knock on, O'Gara gave the hosts a deserved 6-0 lead. However, the numbers were evened up three minutes later as Donncha O'Callaghan was sin-binned for slapping the ball out of Shane Jennings' hands at a ruck, and Sexton landed the resulting penalty for Leinster's opening points.

The first half was largely free-flowing but there was a typically hard-edged element to this inter-provincial clash and a needless check by Girvan Dempsey on de Villiers allowed O'Gara make it 9-3.

Leinster hit back with a side-stepping break from Gordon D'Arcy and only frantic defending - Ian Dowling stopped Kearney just short of the try-line - kept the visitors out. The attack did produce a second successful penalty, struck by McFadden as Sexton received attention.

O'Gara replied with another fine drive from the left, as Leinster were penalised for not retreating, and it looked to be advantage Munster as Sexton pushed a late penalty to the right and wide.

However, Leinster engineered a smash-and-grab try in the dying seconds of the half as a chip through from Isa Nacewa bounced awkwardly for Tomas O'Leary and Doug Howlett and the advancing Kearney gathered it to crash over in the corner. Sexton silenced those in the crowd who had been jeering him with a tremendous conversion from wide, handing Leinster a 13-12 buffer for the break.

Leinster dictated play in the opening stages of the second period but O'Gara shot Munster back in front, after Nathan Hines was sin-binned for a dangerous tackle on Dowling. On the hour, Leinster went through a series of phases in the Munster half and worked two penalty chances for Sexton, the second of which he slotted from the left.

The Leinster out-half snatched at a 73rd minute drop goal as he tried to extend Leinster's lead, and the tension grew as Munster marched towards the visitors' 22, with the tireless Alan Quinlan leading the charge.

However, a knock on between O'Gara and Lifeimi Mafi undid all the good work and Leinster, with Nacewa almost getting through for an intercept try, were able to soak up the pressure in midfield and see out a deserved win.

Leinster stay in control at the top | Rugby Union | Celtic League | Rugby Match Pack | Scrum.com'

**dudeabides** · 04-02-2010, 05:51 PM

Ospreys v Scarlets:

Quote:

A double from flying Irish wing Tommy Bowe secured the spoils in the West Wales derby at the Liberty Stadium as the Ospreys defeated the Scarlets 27-19 on Friday night.

The result revives the home side's title hopes but leaves the Scarlets staring into the abyss in terms of Heineken Cup qualification. Stephen Jones kicked 14 points for the visitors but it was his pass that was picked off in the dying moments for Bowe to seal victory.

Bowe had earlier cancelled out Jonathan Davies' try while Dan Biggar outdid his rival for the Wales No.10 jersey with 17 points from the boot.

Biggar's early drop-goal gave the home side the lead and the youthful fly-half was on hand to claim the advantage again after Jones had levelled the scores. The first try went to the visitors and was a well-worked affair, with Rob McCusker and Rhys Priestland carving through the line and creating the space for Davies to crash over.

The Ospreys' international contingent clicked into gear for their first try as Lee Byrne fractured some resolute Scarlets defence with an outside break, putting the lethal Bowe over in the corner. The second half saw Jones and Biggar trading kicks to leave the score at 20-19 to the home side with moments remaining and it was one misjudged pass that sealed the Scarlets' fate.

Connacht v Edinburgh:

Quote:

Edinburgh's Magners League play-off hopes were dealt a blow by Connacht's gutsy 22-21 victory at the Sportsground in Galway.

Rob Moffatt's men are not the first to taste defeat at Connacht's little fortress but they would have dearly wanted to open up space over their rivals in the race for a top four spot. Despite out-scoring the hosts three tries to two the visitors were forced to make do with only a losing bonus point.

Ian Keatley got Connacht on the board with a third minute penalty and wing Brian Tuohy pounced for an early try before Keatley continued to add pressure with a drop-goal. Then Edinburgh's wingers struck a one-two punch to steal a half-time lead, with Mark Robertson flying over before Dutchman Tim Visser continued his try-scoring form.

Keatley began the second-half as he did the first by scoring, this time notching Connacht's second try. Another penalty gave the home side some breathing space but Edinburgh's third score, from openside Roddy Grant, threatened to undo their efforts. Replacement Miah Nikorah had other ideas, coolly slotting the winning points to send Edinburgh home cursing what could have been.

Bowe brace fires Ospreys | Rugby Union | Celtic League | Rugby News | Scrum.com

**dudeabides** · 04-03-2010, 05:59 PM

Cardiff v Ulster:

Quote:

Cardiff registered back-to-back Magners League wins over Ulster to keep their slim hopes of making the play-offs alive and bolster their chances of staying in next season's Heineken Cup.

For Ulster, though, defeat represented their fourth league game without a win and keeps the pressure on them to ensure they finish ahead of bottom side Connacht, who they head by only four points.

Tries from Man of the Match Casey Laulala, Ulster-bound Xavier Rush and replacement Dafydd Hewitt saw the Blues home, along with 14 points from the boot of Wales winger Leigh Halfpenny.

Ulster staged a second-half revival with scores from Stephen Ferris and Chris Henry, but they were never quite close enough to threaten Cardiff's control of the game.

Niall O'Connor got Ulster moving with an early penalty from under the posts when Gethin Jenkins was pinged at a five-metre scrum after David Pollock had been held up over the Blues line.

However, the remainder of the half belonged to the Blues, with O'Connor's place-kicking being Ulster's only response to two tries from the visitors.

Laulala's score came shortly after Ulster's opening penalty when a pass from O'Connor was picked off by the centre who ran in unopposed from 60 metres out. Ceri Sweeney converted the intercept and the Blues were on their way.

Halfpenny landed his first penalty nine minutes after Laulala's 10th-minute try and then just before the half-hour mark kicked a long-range effort after Ulster prop BJ Botha was penalised for dropping a scrum which put the Blues 10 points clear at 13-3.

A penalty from O'Connor at least kept Ulster in touch, but only briefly, as five minutes after the half hour Rush touched down under the posts when Isaac Boss failed to gather an up and under. The Blues, with space to burn, moved the ball at pace with Laulala providing the scoring pass.

Sweeney converted to make it 20-6 for the visitors and even though O'Connor kicked his third penalty it was Halfpenny who completed the half's scoring, with his third penalty putting the Blues 23-9 in front at the break.

O'Connor narrowed the Blues' lead to 23-12 shortly after the restart and then Ferris smashed over for an unconverted score eight minutes before the hour mark.

At 23-17 it looked as if Ulster might mount a realistic challenge but Halfpenny landed another penalty before just falling short from halfway.

Then, with 10 minutes remaining, replacement Hewitt danced past Botha after the Blues had kept the ball for about three minutes. Halfpenny converted.

Henry's try two minutes from time, which replacement Ian Humphreys converted, was mere consolation.

RTÉ Sport: Ulster 24-33 Cardiff

**dudeabides** · 04-04-2010, 04:51 PM

Glasgow v Newport:

Quote:

Glasgow climbed back into the Magners League play-off places with a 27-19 victory over the Dragons at Firhill Arena - their first win in six games in all competitions.

Bernardo Stortoni, DTH van der Merwe and Colin Shaw scored tries for the Warriors, with Dan Parks kicking four penalties. Jason Tovey kicked 12 points for the Newport Gwent Dragons, who fought to the end, with Will Harries scoring a late converted try, but just failed to earn a bonus point which would have aided their own thrust towards the top four.

Glasgow took a fourth minute lead when Graeme Morrison powered through midfield before the ball found fullback Stortoni who went over for the game's opening try. The Dragons responded and with two penalties from Tovey in as many minutes and led by one point after 16 minutes. Glasgow retook the lead when left wing Van Der Merwe hacked long and won the chase to touch down. Although Tovey kicked his third penalty, Glasgow closed the half strongly and earned a 16-9 lead as Parks kicked two penalties of his own following prolonged pressure on the visitors' line.

Four minutes into the second half Dragons centre Matthew Watkins was sin-binned for a high tackle on Evans and Parks kicked the simple penalty. Parks eased Glasgow further ahead after 63 minutes with Tovey replying in kind three minutes later. With nine minutes remaining, Evans kicked to the Dragons line and winger Shaw pounced for an unconverted try. But instead of going for the fourth and bonus try, Glasgow were put on the back foot and in the final minutes Harries scored the sole Dragons try with substitute James Arlidge converting.

Glasgow maintain play-off push | Rugby Union | Celtic League | Rugby News | Scrum.com

The top 4 in the Magners table are:

1. Leinster 46 pts.
2. Edinburgh 39 pts.
3. Munster 39 pts.
4. Glasgow 38 pts.

The Ospreys are one point behind.

**dudeabides** · 04-13-2010, 06:51 PM

In a rescheduled match, Ulster v Ospreys:

Quote:

The Ospreys bounced back from their heart-breaking exit from the Heineken Cup with a 38-27 bonus point win over Ulster at Ravenhill.

The Welsh region, dumped out of Europe's premier club competition at the hands of Biarritz on Saturday, returned to winning ways thanks to two tries from James Hook and further scores along with 18 points from the boot of Dan Biggar. The win lifts the side up to second place in the Magners League table ahead of Friday's clash at league-leading Leinster.

For Ulster, the defeat saw them slump to their fourth consecutive league defeat and leaves them vulnerable to missing out on next season's Heineken Cup should Connacht overhaul them over the course of the final few games. Ulster's scores came in the first half from Simon Danielli and Andrew Trimble but they were unable to punish Ospreys when Ian Gough was binned late in the second half.

Niall O'Connor made up for an opening penalty miss by nailing his first after 10 minutes but three minutes later Ospreys scored their first try through Shane Williams after a Lee Byrne flick pass. Referee Neil Patterson consulted the TMO and the score was given though Dan Biggar's conversion bounced out off the upright.

Ulster immediately hit back with another O'Connor penalty and then burst through to score, four minutes before the half-hour, as Isaac Boss, Ed O'Donoghue and Rory Best combined to see Danielli charge over the line and run round the behind the posts to narrow the angle for O'Connor, although his kick was adjudged to have missed by the TMO. The Ospreys needed to hit back and when a Biggar chip over the top was collected by Hook, he handed off Wallace to score. Biggar made no mistake with the extras and now the Ospreys led again 12-11.

However, they were unable to build on their lead and, in first-half injury time, Trimble raced clear down the left wing with O'Connor this time adding the conversion to give Ulster the lead 18-12 at the turnaround.

Biggar then narrowed Ulster's lead with an early second-half penalty and levelled the scores with another successful kick after Ulster strayed offside. O'Connor was then wide with a fairly straightforward effort and then gifted Hook his second try after his chip was easily charged down in Ulster's 22, allowing Biggar to add the conversion to put the Ospreys 25-18 to the good.

Again, though, Ulster came back with two penalties from O'Connor, the second coming in the 66th minute after Ian Gough was binned for dragging down a driving maul, and Ulster then snatched the lead back 27-25. But even with 14 men, the Ospreys managed to keep the scoreboard ticking over in their favour and Biggar kicked two more penalties to give his side a 31-27 lead.

Ulster again had a chance to hit back but lost possession on the Ospreys' line just as Gough returned to the action. You sensed it was a turning point and it proved to be with a loose pass from Boss being hacked upfield by Adam Jones, allowing Bowe to touch the ball down as it rolled over the line.

Link